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A 19-year-old man from East Palo Alto has pleaded not guilty to charges by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office related to attempting to rape a Menlo Park jogger.
Rogelio Alexander Artiga, 19, who allegedly attacked and tried to force himself on a Menlo Park woman who was out jogging on Monday, pleaded not guilty Sept. 19 to three felonies and a misdemeanor related to the allegations.
The felony charges are assault with intent to commit sexual assault, attempted rape, and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime; the misdemeanor charge is for sexual battery.
On Monday, Sept. 17, a 33-year-old woman was out jogging around 4:30 p.m. when, near the intersection of Oak Court and Woodland Avenue, Artiga allegedly jogged toward her and asked, “Do you like to dance?” according to prosecutors.
She said no, and continued running. But he allegedly followed her.
She called 911, but Artiga allegedly then grabbed her from behind, put a hand over her genital area and moved her over a couple of feet into the brush. While she was on the phone with the police, he grabbed her phone and threw it away.
He allegedly then tried to pull her pants down, but she screamed and fought back, yelling that she would kill him for attacking her.
At that point, prosecutors said, he became scared and ran away.
Police found him nearby and the woman identified him as the attacker.
Nearby surveillance footage showed him running out of the brush with the woman chasing him, prosecutors said.
According to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, the charge of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime is because the man allegedly threw the woman’s cellphone while she was on the phone with the police; and the charge of sexual battery was considered a misdemeanor because no clothing was removed.
Artiga remains in custody, with bail set at $150,000. The case has been set for an Oct. 2 preliminary hearing, at 2 p.m.
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